Canopy With Solar-Powered Lighting

ABSTRACT

A canopy including a shade having a fabric top, a solar light assembly mounted in the fabric top, and legs supporting the shade. The solar light assembly includes at least one solar cell facing upwardly from a top side of the fabric top, at least one light source facing downwardly from a bottom side of the fabric top, and a power storage device for storing electrical power generated by the solar cell and for providing electrical power to the light source. A control unit controls activation and deactivation of the light source.

BACKGROUND

Grilling outdoors is a favorite tradition for many people. But in the summer, the sun can be hot, and standing over a hot grill can be even hotter. In contrast, at night, the lack of sunlight can make it difficult to see the food on the grill, for example to tell whether the food is done or needs further cooking. Therefore, there is a need for a grill canopy to protect a user from solar radiation, as well as rain and other elements of nature, while also providing a source of light to the grill to make it easier to see the food being cooked and the state of the grill.

SUMMARY

A canopy is provided including a shade having a fabric top, a solar light assembly mounted in the fabric top, and legs supporting the shade. The solar light assembly includes at least one solar cell facing upwardly from a top side of the fabric top, at least one light source facing downwardly from a bottom side of the fabric top, and a power storage device for storing electrical power generated by the solar cell and for providing electrical power to the light source. A control unit controls activation and deactivation of the light source.

A canopy is provided including a shade having a frame and a fabric top covering the frame. The frame includes a pair of side frame portions including an upper side member, a lower side member, and a rear member generally forming a triangular shape having a substantially straight bottom side and a substantially curved top side, a front member connecting front corners of the side frame portions, and an upper rear member and a lower rear member connecting rear upper and lower corners, respectively, of the side frame portions. The fabric top includes a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a rear panel. A solar light assembly is mounted in the top panel of the fabric top, the solar light assembly including at least one solar cell facing upwardly from a top side of the fabric top, at least one light source facing downwardly from a bottom side of the fabric top, and a power storage device for storing electrical power generated by the solar cell and for providing electrical power to the light source, the light source including at least one light emitting diode. Legs support the shade, the frame being pivotably connected to the legs by a pin extending through each rear member and a respective leg, the legs each comprising an upper tube telescopically received into a lower tube to enable the length of the legs to be adjusted. A pair of support members each has a first end pivotably connected to a respective lower side member and a second end slidably connected to a respective leg, such that when the second ends of the support members are raised vertically with respect to the legs the shade is pivoted about the pin to a deployed position and when the second ends of the support members are lowered vertically with respect to the legs the shade is pivoted about the pin to a stowed position. A control unit is mounted to one of the legs for controlling activation and deactivation of the light source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages described herein will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top-front perspective view of an embodiment of a canopy with solar-powered lighting.

FIG. 2 is a bottom-front perspective view of the canopy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom-front perspective view of a support frame for the canopy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the design of a solar light assembly for use in a canopy.

FIG. 5 is side perspective view of another embodiment of canopy with solar-powered lighting.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a fabric top of the canopy of FIG. 5 showing the frame supporting the fabric top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a canopy 10 with solar lighting is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a frame 70 for the canopy 10 is shown in FIG. 3. The canopy 10 includes a shade 20 having a fabric top 30 and a solar light assembly 50 mounted in the fabric top 30. The fabric top 30 is given shape and support by the support frame 70. As depicted, the solar light assembly 50 is mounted in a reinforced center panel 32 of the fabric top 30 flanked by lateral panels 34. The shade 20 also includes fabric side panels 36, a fabric rear panel 38, and decorative fringe panels 40 and 42 on the sides and front of the shade 20, respectively.

The frame 70 provides support and shape for the shade 20. The frame 70 includes a front member 72 and an upper rear member 74 joined at their respective ends by upper side members 76. The upper side members 76 may be curved or straight to impart a desired shape to the fabric top 30. The frame 70 further includes a lower rear member 80 joined to the front member 72 at their respective ends by lower side members 78. A vertical rear member, 84 connects the junction between each upper side member 76 and the upper rear member 74 with the junction between each lower side member 78 and the lower side member 80 at each rear corner of the frame 70. Reinforcing members 88 may be provided on either side of the center panel 32, interconnecting the front member 72 with the upper rear member 74, to provide additional support to the fabric top 30 adjacent to the solar light assembly 50. Each of the members 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, and 88 can be constructed from a material having sufficient strength and rigidity to support the fabric top 30 and solar light assembly 50, and also sufficient flexibility to help the shade 20 withstand sun, rain, and wind. For example, the members 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, and 88 may be made from steel, aluminum, fiberglass, reinforced plastic, or other suitable materials known in the art.

The shade 20 is supported by legs 90 pivotably attached to the frame 70. Each leg includes a substantially vertical pole 92 and a base 94. The base is secured to a lower end of each pole 92 and includes a plurality of feet 95. As shown, the base 94 includes five feet 95, it being understood that any number of feet 95 equal to or greater than three would sufficient, or that an enlarged base 94 without extending feet could be used.

A tilt adjustment mechanism 82 enables the shade 20 to be tilted at an angle with respect to the legs 40. The tilt adjustment mechanism 82 includes a pivot pin 68 about which the shade 20 can pivot, and a fastener 66 for securing the shade 20 in a desired position. The shade 20 can pivot about the pivot pin 32 from a stowed position, in which the fabric top 30 is generally parallel to the legs 40, to a fully deployed position, in which the fabric top 30 is generally perpendicular to the legs 40. The tilt adjustment mechanism 82 includes a tilt plate 60 mounted in the rear of each side of the frame 70, each tilt plate 60 being secured to the upper and lower side members 76 and 76 and the vertical rear member 84 on each side of the frame 70. The tilt plate 60 has an arcuate adjustment slot 62 and a pivot hole 64.

Correspondingly, a securing hole 46 and a pivot hole 48 are provided near an upper end of each leg pole 42. The pivot, pin 68 is inserted through the pivot hole 48 in the pole 42 and the corresponding pivot hole 64 in the tilt plate 60, to enable the shade 20 to pivot with respect to the legs 40. The fastener 66 is inserted through the securing hole 46 in the pole 42 and the corresponding adjustment slot 62 in the tilt plate 60, to guide the pivoting of the shade 20 and to secure the shade 20 in a desired position with respect to the legs 40 between and including the stowed position and the fully deployed position.

The solar light assembly 50 includes at least one solar cell 52 facing upwardly from a top side of the panel 32 and at least one light source 54 facing downwardly from a bottom side of the panel 32. The at least one solar cell 52 can be a commercially available solar cell for generating electricity. The at least one light source 54 should be a high efficiency light source such as a light emitting diode. As shown in FIG. 4, the solar light assembly 50 further includes a power storage device 56 for storing electrical power generated by the solar cell 52 and for providing electrical power to the light source 54. When the sun is shining, the solar cell 52 turns solar radiation in to electricity, which is used to charge the storage device 56, and when the sun is not shining or extra light is needed beneath the shade 20, the light source 54 can be activated by drawing electricity from the storage device 56 to the light source.

A control unit 58 controls activation and deactivation of the light source 54. As depicted, the control unit 58 is mounted to one of the legs 40 and includes a manually actuated on-off switch 59. Wiring 57 connect the control unit 58 to the solar light assembly 50. The control unit 58 can also include other mechanism for activating and deactivating the light source 54, including but not limited to an ambient light sensor and a timer.

The canopy 10, the shade 20 has sufficient size and the legs 40 have sufficient length to enable the canopy 10 to be positioned to shield a barbeque grill and cook from the sun and rain, and also to provide, light for cooking in the absence of sunlight. In one such embodiment, the shade 20 measures approximately 40 inches wide and 20 inches deep, and the legs 40 measure approximately 79 inches long Another embodiment of a canopy 110 with solar lighting is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The canopy 110 includes a shade 120 having a fabric top 130 and a solar light assembly 150 mounted in a main panel 134 of the fabric top 130. The fabric top also includes side panels 136 flanking the main panel 134 on either side and being disposed in a substantially vertical orientation when the canopy 110 is deployed with the main panel 134 in a generally horizontal orientation. In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 5, the main panel 134 is in a generally horizontal orientation with a concavity in the downward direction. A rear panel 138 spans between rear ends of the side panels 136 and extends downward from the main panel 134 when the shade 120 is deployed. The fabric top 130 is given structure by a frame 170. In overview, the frame 170 includes a pair of side frame portions each including an upper side member 176, a lower side member 178, and a rear member 184 generally forming a triangular shape having a substantially straight bottom side and a substantially curved top side. The frame 170 further includes a front member 172 connecting front corners of the side frame portions and an upper rear member 174 and a lower rear member 180 connecting rear upper and lower corners, respectively, of the side frame portions. As discussed above, the fabric top 130 includes the top panel 134, the pair of side panels 136, and the rear panel 138 to cover the frame 170.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the frame 170 includes the curved upper side members 176, one located at the junction between the main panel 134 and each of the side panels 136. The frame also includes the horizontal lower side members 178, each lower side member 178 being located along a lower edge of each of the side panels 136. On each side of the shade 120, the upper side member 176 and the lower side member 178 are connected to each other at front ends thereof. The front member 172 provides lateral structure by connecting the front ends of the upper side members 176 and the lower side members 178 on one side of the fabric top 130 with the front ends of the upper side members 176 and the lower side members 178 on the other side of the fabric top 130. The vertical rear members 184 extend up rear edges of each of the side panels 136 and connected rear ends of the respective upper side member 176 and lower side member 178. The upper rear member 174 spans the top edge of the rear panel 138 and the lower rear member 180 spans the bottom edges of the rear panel 138. The upper rear member 174 connects the junction between the upper side member 176 and the rear member 184 on one side of the shade 120 with the junction between the upper side member 176 and the rear member 184 on the other side of the shade 120, while the lower rear member 180 makes a similar lateral connection between the junctions of the respective lower side members 178 and rear members 184. All of the frame members can be secured to their respective panels by fabric loops or pockets.

The shade 120 is supported by a pair of collapsible legs 190. Each leg 190 includes a lower tube 194 and an upper tube 192, the upper tube 192 having a smaller diameter than the lower tube 194 to allow the upper tube 192 to telescopically slide into and out of the lower tube 194. When the canopy 110 is stored, the upper tube 192 can be almost completely recessed within the lower tube 194, and when the canopy 110 is deployed, the height of the legs 190 can be adjusted by varying the length of the upper tube 192 that is exposed above the lower tube 194. A rotary compression fitting 196 located at an upper end of the lower tube 194 is used to secure the upper tube 192 with respect to the lower tube 194, although other equivalent mechanical fittings or the like can be used.

Each leg 190 is pivotably connected to the shade 120 by a pivot pin 179 passing through a hole 183 located at about a midpoint of each of the vertical rear members 184 to allow the rear members 184, and thus the entire shade 120, to pivot with respect to the legs 190. The shade 120 is supported in its deployed position by a pair of angled support members 188. A first end of each support member 188 is pivotably connected to a corresponding lower side member 178 by a pivot pin 168 passing through a hole 169 in the lower side member 178. The location of the hole 169 is determined based on the length of the lower side member 178 as well as by the weight of the shade 120 that must be deployed and stowed. In the depicted embodiment, the hole 169 is located in a frontward half of the lower side member 178.

A second end of the angled support member 188 is pivotably connected by a pin 166 to a slider 160. The slider 160 includes a sleeve 162 disposed about the upper tube 192 of the leg 190 such that the slider 160 can slide upward and downward with respect to the upper tube 192. A tab 164 extends frontward from the sleeve 162 for receiving the pin 166. The sleeve 162 includes a hole 161 for receiving a weight bearing pin 199.

The upper tube 192 includes at least one through hole 198 for receiving the weight bearing pin 199 to secure the shade 120 in a deployed position. Multiple through holes 198 may be provided to enable multiple deployed positions of the shade 120. The pin 199 may be inserted through the hole 198 below the slider 160, to prevent the slider from moving downward with respect to the leg 190, or the pin 199 may be inserted both through the hole 161 in the slider sleeve 162 and through the hole 198 in the upper tube 192 to prevent the slider 160 from moving upward or downward with respect to the leg 190.

To stow the shade 120, the pin 199 is removed, allowing the slider 160 to slide downward with respect to the leg 190, while at the same time allowing the angled support member 188 to pivot with respect to the lower side member 178 and the rear member 184 to pivot with respect to the upper tube 192. The slider 160 slides along the upper tube 192 until the shade 120 is generally parallel to the legs 190, and then the legs 190 can be telescopically shortened by loosening the fittings 196 and sliding the upper tubes 192 into the corresponding lower tubes 194. Deploying the shade 120 is the opposite of stowing.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a solar light assembly 150 is mounted in the main panel 134 of the fabric top 130 and includes a solar cell (not shown) and a light source 154. The light source 154 can be activated by a control unit 158 such as an on-off switch 159 mounted on one of the legs 190.

The foregoing describes embodiments foreseen by the inventors for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the device, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto. 

1. A canopy comprising: a shade having a fabric top; a solar light assembly mounted in the fabric top, the solar light assembly including at least one solar cell facing upwardly from a top side of the fabric, top, at least one light source facing downwardly from a bottom side of the fabric top, and a power storage device for storing electrical power generated by the solar cell and for providing electrical power to the light source; legs for supporting the shade; and a control unit for controlling activation and deactivation of the light source.
 2. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the solar shade includes a support frame for supporting the fabric top, the canopy further comprising: a tilt adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tilt angle of the shade with respect to the legs.
 3. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the control unit is mounted to one of the legs.
 4. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises an on/off switch.
 5. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises an ambient light sensor.
 6. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least on light emitting diode.
 7. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the solar light assembly is integrally sewn into the fabric top, the solar cell being exposed through the top side of the fabric top and the light source being exposed through the bottom side of the fabric top.
 8. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the legs include a first leg located on a right side of the shade and a second leg located on a left side of the shade, and wherein the width of the shade between the first and second legs is approximately twice the depth of the shade in a direction perpendicular to a line connecting the first and second legs.
 9. The canopy of claim 1, the fabric top being supported by a frame that is pivotable with respect to the legs to enable the fabric top to be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position.
 10. The canopy of claim 1, the canopy including a frame comprising: a pair of side frame portions including an upper side member, a lower side member, and a rear member generally forming a triangular shape having a substantially straight bottom side and a substantially curved top side; a front member connecting front corners of the side frame portions; and an upper rear member and a lower rear member connecting rear upper and lower corners, respectively, of the side frame portions; and the fabric top comprising a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a rear panel for covering the frame; wherein the solar light assembly is mounted in the top panel.
 11. The canopy of claim 10, wherein the frame is pivotably connected to each of the legs by a pin extending through each rear member and a respective leg, the canopy further comprising: a pair of support members each having a first end pivotably connected to a respective lower side member and a second end slidably connected to a respective leg, such that when the second ends of the support members are raised vertically with respect to the legs the shade is pivoted about the pin to a deployed position and when the second ends of the support members are lowered vertically with respect to the legs the shade is pivoted about the pin to a stowed position.
 12. The canopy of claim 1, the legs each comprising an upper tube telescopically received into a lower tube to enable the length of the legs to be adjusted.
 13. A canopy comprising: a shade having a frame and a fabric top covering the frame, the frame including a pair of side frame portions each including an upper side member, a lower side member, and a rear member generally forming a triangular shape having a substantially straight bottom side and a substantially curved top side, a front member connecting front corners of the side frame portions, and an upper rear member and a lower rear member connecting rear upper and lower corners, respectively, of the side frame portions, the fabric top including a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a rear panel; a solar light assembly mounted in the top panel of the fabric top, the solar light assembly including at least one solar cell facing upwardly from a top side of the fabric top, at least one light source facing downwardly from a bottom side of the fabric top, and a power storage device for storing electrical power generated by the solar cell and for providing electrical power to the light source, the light source including at least one light emitting diode; legs for supporting the shade, the frame being pivotably connected to the legs by a pin extending through each rear member and a respective leg, the legs each comprising an upper tube telescopically received into a lower tube to enable the length of the legs to be adjusted; a pair of support members each having a first end pivotably connected to a respective lower side member and a second end slidably connected to a respective leg, such that when the second ends of the support members are raised vertically with respect to the legs the shade is pivoted about the pin to a deployed position and when the second ends of the support members are lowered vertically with respect to the legs the shade is pivoted about the pin to a stowed position; and a control unit mounted to one of the legs for controlling activation and deactivation of the light source. 